Upper right picture shows the typical shoreline of the Caluya group of islands (source: http://www.exploreiloilo.com/caluya-a-paradise-beyond-boracay.html).
The main source of livelihood of the people of Caluya, Antique are fishing and seaweeds production. In 1998, DMCI opened the second pit, Panian, in Brgy. Semirara (upper left picture) by open strip mining. Semirara coal are used mainly by power and cement plants. Because of the outcry on the environmental and health impacts of burning coal, DMCI adopted the marketing gimmick of ‘CLEAN COAL’ technology. Literally, DMCI started washing the coal of impurities in 2005.However, the wastes from the coal-washing facility were dumped to the sea turning the white beach into black (picture below) killing the mangroves and seagrasses and driving away all marine life including the Dugong. This illustrates there is no ‘CLEAN COAL’ – but blatant ‘green washing’ gimmicks to fool the public.
The residents petitioned DENR Secretary Atienza in September 2008 to compell DMCI to rehabilitate the area, provide alternative livelihood to the fisherfolks and compensate the affected communities for damages.
DENR issued DMCI a ‘Notice of Violation’ and scheduled an MMT (multipartite monitoring team) field investigation on March 16-18, 2009 and a hearing on the EGF (environmental guarantee fund) on March 19. DMCI is now trying to cover the area by bulldozing topsoil and planting coconut trees.
Expose DMCI’s environmental crimes!
Justice to the people of Semirara!
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